It was expected with the arrival of the electrified version of the popular SUV nameplate but rumours have begun circulation that it is the beginning of the end for the Macan ICE in Europe but not for reasons you’d expect.
Looking for your next Audi? Find it here with CARmag
The current crops of ICE-powered nameplates are dropping like flies in the European market. More often than not, the reason is not meeting the stringent emissions regulations posed by lawmakers on the continent. That isn’t the case with the Macan ICE model since Porsche has decided to cull the SUV because it doesn’t comply with upcoming cybersecurity regulations.
According to a spokesperson cited by Automotive News Europe, sales of the Macan will cease in EU countries by Q2 in 2024. During the development phase of this crossover generation, the specific regulations were not yet finalized. The spokesperson explained that the cost of updating the vehicle to meet the new cybersecurity requirements would be prohibitively high. Reportedly, an automaker faces fines of up to €30 000 (almost R600 000) for each vehicle sold that does not comply with the upcoming UNECE WP.29 regulation.
Related: Porsche’s EV Macan Offers Augmented Reality HUD and New Infotainment
The markets set to lose the internal combustion engine Macan ICE model include the 27 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. It’s worth noting that the UK officially left the EU on January 31, 2020.
This development deals a significant blow to Porsche, given that the Macan was its top-selling product through October but the arrival of the electrified Macan will likely offset the deficit.
Read our first impressions here: Porsche’s All-New Electric Macan – First Look
The Macan is not the only Porsche model transitioning to electric power, as the 718 will also bid farewell to its combustion engine. The Boxster and Cayman duo is slated to go fully electric around 2025. Additionally, a next-gen, electric-only Cayenne has been announced, along with a larger three-row SUV that will eschew ICE power.
For the time being, Porsche has not made an announcement regarding the Macan ICE model’s fate for other global markets for South Africa so we can expect the current generation of SUV to run its course and remain on salesfloors locally.
